Shin Splints: Symptoms And Treatment With Orthotics

Shin Splints refers to a painful condition in the shin area caused by injury to the tendon adjacent to the tibia. The consequent inflammation happens in the front or inside section of the shin bone. In many cases, shin pain in runners is a product of intense physical activity like jumping, running or playing active sports; shin pain in runners can require an extended period of time to improve.

Shin Splints: Common Symptoms

The symptoms for shin splints include inflammation and/or soreness around the shin area, especially after running, walking, or participating in sports activities. It is common for the pain to present itself when starting the exercise, then to diminish after warming up, then to resurface when getting into rest. It is not uncommon for shin pain in athletes to occur in people who have just started to get involved in intense physical activities.

Causes of Shin Splints

The main cause of shin pain in runners is severe stretching of the muscles and tendons that run along the shin bones (tibia and fibula). Overuse of these muscles by athletes and runners is the most common trigger for this condition. Other causes for shin pain in runners can also be due to excessive use of the anterior tibialis muscle in the front of the leg, along the outside front of the shin bones.

Excessive pronation of the feet is often a significant contributor to shin pain in runners. Excessive pronation causes internal rotation of the tibia and amplifies the tractional forces upon the muscles and ligaments in the lower leg.

Treating Shin Pain

For the short term, it is recommended that the individual rests to help lessen the pain. Running and other intense physical activities should be avoided until the condition is under control. Shin splints are often prevented by performing stretching exercises before strong sports activity. It is critical for athletes and runners to steadily build up their activity level, and always have a solid warm-up prior to sudden or intense exercise. A change in running style to reduce stride length and avoiding heavy heel strike can also reduce shin pain in the long term.

The use of appropriate footwear is also a good way to prevent and reduce the pain associated with shin splints, especially for runners who strike heavily with the heel. Running shoes with proper rear foot stability should be used whenever possible. Additionally, orthotics for running shoes are useful in that they help prevent excessive pronation and providing heel cushioning, thus reducing the impact while providing heel stability.

In general, athletes and runners need to constantly engage in proper preventive foot care in order to stay in top performance shape.

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